Games 24-26: No. 9 UC Santa Barbara (17-4) at Fresno State (13-10)
First Pitch: March 24-26, 2023 – Fri.: 6:05 p.m., Sat.: 3:05 p.m., Sun.: 1:05 p.m.
Stadium: Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium
Surface: Grass
All-Time Series: Fresno State leads 53-40
Last Meeting: Fresno State defeated UC Santa Barbara, 9-2 (May 31, 2019, at the NCAA Regionals in Stanford, Calif.)
Video: Mountain West Network
Radio: Bulldog Sports Network
Live Stats: BulldogsLive.com
Twitter:@FresnoStateBSB
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team is facing its first ranked opponent this season with a weekend series against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
The 'Dogs are coming off a series sweep over UNLV last weekend, and a loss to Cal Poly on Tuesday.
BULLDOG BONES
Infielder Murf Gray was named Mountain West Freshman of the week after his standout performance in the series sweep over UNLV.
Tommy Hopfe is tied for third in the nation in season saves.
The Bulldogs are sitting at 9-5 at home this season and have advanced to 13-10 overall.
Travis Welker ranks 10th in the nation for toughest to strike out with 4 strikeouts over 72 at-bats.
WORK ON THE MOUND
The 'Dogs sit in second place in the Mountain West Conference on the mound this season with a team ERA of 4.39.
Ixan Henderson has consistently led the conference this season in strikeouts, totaling 41 over 35 innings pitched. With a 2.38 ERA, a 3-1 record, and only 12 runs allowed, he sits at fourth place in individual pitching in the conference after six appearances.
Roman Angelo is close behind, sitting at eighth place in the conference with a 4.03 ERA over 29 innings pitched with only 22 hits allowed. He is tied for fourth place in the MW for strikeouts with 33 recorded.
'DOGS AT THE DISH
Fresno State has a .247 team average and is led by Bobby Blandford, who is batting .296 with 21 hits and 11 RBIs this season.
Senior Travis Welker has only been struck out four times in 2023, making him the 10th toughest batter to strike out in the nation, while also batting .264 with 19 hits and eight runs scored.
A LOOK AT THE GAUCHOS
The Gauchos are nationally ranked by five different organizations: #9 by Collegiate Baseball, #17 by Perfect Game and College Baseball Nation, #23 by Baseball America and #24 by USA Today.
They own a 17-4 record this year and sit in second place in the Big West Conference. Aaron Parker leads the Gauchos at the plate with a .343 average with 24 hits and 15 RBIs.